Background: Attitudes to the sexual expression of adults with an intellectual disability (ID) are one reflection of the inclusiveness of a community. Our capacity to measure attitudes towards this important aspect of adult life is limited by the lack of an appropriate instrument. The aim of this study was to continue the development of a recently…

This document, which discusses the image of librarians in 20th century murder mysteries, suggests that the image initially evolved from an elitist spirit that was the result of the missionary zeal and cultural superiority of early librarians, and that the image of the old maid librarian was probably based on the reality that early women college…

Interviews with six disabled individuals from the Center for Independent Living in Berkeley, California are presented to explore myths and misunderstandings about handicapped persons. The individuals, who are partially sighted, physically disabled, and cerebral palsied, discuss their experiences growing up with a disability, attending school,…

Stereotypic statements about social groups are correlational in nature. That is, they express the speaker's belief in the relationship between two variables, one having to do with group membership and the other being a psychological attribute. This paper describes research directed toward determining cognitive biases influencing the development of…

The second of five booklets designed to change the attitudes of the general public toward disabled people examines attitudes toward deaf and hearing impaired people. Six myths (including that deaf persons cannot appreciate the arts) are contradicted, and five situations demonstrating attitudinal barriers are described. Suggested actions when…

Attitudes toward wheelchair users are the focus of the third of five booklets on attitudinal barriers toward disabled persons. Five myths (such as that people using wheelchairs cannot enjoy sex) are examined and common negative attitudes are portrayed in five scenes. The booklet concludes with suggestions for dealing with a wheelchair user (such…

The fourth in a series on attitudinal barriers facing disabled persons, the booklet examines attitudes of disabled toward nondisabled persons. Among five myths contradicted is that nondisabled people are disgusted by disability. Five scenes portraying disabled person's attitudes are presented. The booklet concludes with suggested actions when…

The equivocal relationship between contact with and perceptions of the elderly obtained in previous research is attributed to limitations in the way contact has been assessed. Multiple regression analyses identified several aspects of quality of contact with the elderly that reliably predicted attitudes toward and perceptions of them. (Author/ABB)

Investigated stereotypes of counseling center clients and examined how these preconceptions influence social interaction. Results indicated perceivers rated clients less favorably than they did nonclients and perceivers behaved more negatively toward clients than nonclients, and clients came to behave in a less socially desirable manner than did…

Results show that someone can be behaviorally cast into a deviant role through the use of subtle communication techniques. (Author/DEP)

It was concluded that occupation is a more important determinant of certain types of personality assessment in initial encounters than is individual appearance. (Author)

In a search for an empirical data base appropriate to women's careers, the supposition that men's views play an important although often unrecognized part in the careers women choose was supported. Women may be influenced by what they believe men think is appropriate female behavior. (Author)

Discusses harmful myths or stereotypes that adults have about adolescents and proposes a realistic appraisal of adolescents' needs based on their developmental tasks. (SS)

Twenty-two advertisements from "Reader's Digest" and twenty-two from "Retirement Living" magazine were analyzed in order to determine the way in which old people are portrayed. The advertisements were found to support the common societal stereotypes that old people are unproductive, prefer to associate with other old people rather than with…